The Best New Way to Bring Your Lunch

I’ll admit it—my workday lunches can get pretty boring. I always think I’m going to finally make use of all those delicious recipes I’ve been
pinning away
, but then nighttime rolls around and I’m too busy watching really important things like
The Bachelorette
and
Vampire Diaries
. And then morning comes, and I’m
running around like a headless chicken
and I’m lucky if I remember my keys and bus pass on the way out the door, let alone find time to throw a tasty lunch together.

But with a teensy amount of planning, delicious lunches can be just a few easy steps away. All it takes is a trip to the grocery store on a Sunday afternoon, a couple pantry staples, some mason jars, and an hour of your time.

There really are only two rules to the mason jar salad: Start with the dressing or sauce, and end with the lettuce and herbs. However you want to layer the rest of the ingredients—try different meats, beans, lettuces, cheeses, vinaigrettes, or sauces—is up to you (though I usually layer by weight so heavier items, like tomatoes, are on the bottom).

The best part is you can make five salads at a time, and they’ll stay fresh for the whole week—just grab and go on your way out the door! When lunchtime rolls around, you’ll be sitting pretty with your delicious salad ready to be shaken up.

To get you going, check out three of my favorite recipes, ingredients listed in layering order. Happy lunching!

Caprese Pasta Salad

2 tbsp basil pesto (homemade or store-bought)

1 cup cherry tomatoes

1 ½ oz fresh mozzarella, chopped into bite sized pieces

2 oz cooked penne pasta

½ cup fresh spinach leaves

½ cup fresh basil, chopped

Chickpea Salad

2 tbsp easy lemon vinaigrette (see below)

1 cup chickpeas

½ cup sun-dried or oven roasted tomatoes

¼ cup spring onion, chopped

¼ cup red onion, chopped

½ cup olives, chopped

¼ cup piquillo peppers, chopped

½ cup fresh spinach

Greek Pasta Salad

2 tbsp easy lemon vinaigrette (see below)

1 cup cherry tomatoes

¼ cup red onion, chopped

1 cup cucumber, chopped

½ cup feta, crumbled

2 oz rigatoni, cooked

½ cup mixed greens

½ cup fresh mint, chopped

Easy Lemon Vinaigrette

(will make enough for 3-4 mason jars)

Juice from one large lemon

½ cup olive oil

Good pinch of salt

Couple of grinds of black pepper

Shake all ingredients together in a small container.

Speaking of shaking, try to remember to leave room at the top of each jar. Don’t worry if you get a little over zealous (I usually am!) with your ingredients though—just shake the jar like crazy when you’re ready for lunch, eat a few bites, then shake some more once there’s a bit more room!

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Photos courtesy of Niki Lowry.

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Niki comes to us from the financial world, but she’s an online girl at heart. After graduating from Cal, she spent a couple of years traveling and working (Ireland – NY – OC) before finally making it back to San Francisco to pursue a career in business and marketing. An avid fan of handwritten thank you notes, Niki also loves fresh flowers for any occasion, the sound of being underwater, and she firmly believes ketchup bottles do not belong on the breakfast table. When she’s not Musing, you can find her on her blog, wandering around the Ferry Building in San Francisco, or with her nose in a ridiculously addicting YA book.